The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1887-01-28
Ashantee and Its People.

Ashantee, new kingdom on the Gold
Coast, has given the British no little
trouble, and may give them good deal
more. 1t is mountainous, well watered
and healthful, except in the lower dis
tricts, and has a population of about
!, SEQ, 600, oae-fifth of whom are war
riors. The beginning of the kingdom is
obscure; but traditions say that 1t was
Occur led several centuries ago by immi-
grants IRON region north OF the King
Mountains, caused. probably, by the
spr ad of the Muhammedan Empire to
Timbuctoo. The first known of II II
Europe was in 1900, when Coomassie
was made the capital by Osai Tootoo l.,
who, having overcome various separate
states, was established as a kind OF
feudal rince over a large district. In
their course Of conquest over the Fantees
til. Ashantees followed them even TO the
large seaport towns, aud butehered tn m
BY Thousands The British sided with
the weaker party, when the savage foe
attacked the fot of Anamboe, and
would have slaughtered the garrison
had not the British Governor displayed
a flag of truce Hostilities lasted,
with some interruptions, from 1907 to
1s26 when the Ashantees were finally
driven from the sea coast. Some four
teen years ago the British were involved
in another war with their old enemy.
Then an army under Sir Garnet Wolseley
penetrated to the heart of the Kingdom,
burned Coomassie and returned safely TO
the coast Notwithstanding their re-
We ses and losses, the Ashantees are still
belligerent and powerful, and enjoy as
much prosperity as any negro nation in
western Africa. They are very barbar-
Gus ald bloodthirsty; but their abund-
ant gold, extent of territory and success
full campaigns have yielded them pres
tige aud prominence. They have no
military knowledge, but depend upon
their savage bravery and overwhelming
numbers, including many ,laves. which
the chiefs can put in the field. The
King IS commander-in-chief, and often
leads his host in person As an instance
of their desperate courage, many of them,
after defeat by the British, were so NOR
titled and so fearful Of degradation that
they coolly sat down on kegs of gun
powder and blew Themselves into the air,
in presence of the hostile camp. The
government OF those negroes is an abso-
lutte despotism, the King exercising com
plete control over the lives and property
Of his subjects. He has spies every
where, and the slightest act or word Of
disaffection is at once reported, and the
rebel is put to death. He is the great
property owner: he lcvies tax of twenty
per cent. on all manufactured gold and
all gold taken from the mines. so that he
is the richest individual in Africa.
Slavery prevails extensively, the chiefs
often holding zoo slaves each; these
beings are for the most part pagan ne
groes, captured in war by Mohamme.
dams, brought from the interior and sold
into bondage. Polygamy is 4 favorite
institution, a mans importance being
rated by the number Of his wives The
King is limited, poor fellow, to 1888,
who occupy two entire streets and are
vigorously secluded from everybody save
the sovereign and his feminine relatives,
t. look on one of them, even acciden.
tally. is a capital offence Adultery i:
punished by fine, and retaliation OF
any violent kind on the part of the hus
band is thought mean and degrading
The Ashantees seem to delight in shed.
ding blood. and human sacrifice is
part of their religious ceremony.-Co Di-
merciGl 4drertjsrr.